Device for fastening sheets



June 7, 1938. w. KARLEN 2,120,149

DEVICE FOR FASTENING SHEETS I 7 Filed March 25, 1935 INVENTOR.

LW KHRLEN ATTO EY.

Patented June 7, 1938 UNITED PATENT Application March 25,

3 Claims.

This invention relates to sheet fasteners and more particularly to fasteners that are usually permanently attached to a backing sheet.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a two-piece sheet fastener that may be easily and quickly assembled for use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a two-piece sheet fastener that when once assembled for use will be yieldingly held against accidental detachment.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a detachable two-piece sheet fastener that successfully holds the sheet engaging and retaining arms against undesirable movement during the placing or removing of the sheets.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sheet fastener that permits the selection of various length attachable sheet holding arms.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sheet fastener of two parts that is of exceptionally thin construction and one that will not undesirably engage other folders in a filing cabinet when the folder to which it is secured is being removed from or placed in the filing cabinet.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a sheet fastener of two parts that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my fastener secured to a backing sheet.

Fig. 2 is a back view of my fastener and more fully illustrating its construction.

I will now describe in detail the preferred form of construction of my two-piece sheet fastener. Obviously, many other forms can be used to accomplish the desired results. The one shown, however, will illustrate how the many troubles experienced heretofore in sheet fasteners have been eliminated.

In the drawing, I have used the numeral ill to designate an ordinary backing sheet to which my fastener may be attached. I have used the numeral II to designate the flat base portion of the fastener. This base II has four pointed ear portions l2 integrally formed at the four corner ends respectively of the base. These ears I2 1935, Serial No. 12,886

always extend transversely of the longitudinal axis of the sheets being held, as shown in Fig. 1. To secure this base H to a backing sheet l0 it is merely necessary to place the base II at the back of the backing sheet I 0 and force the pointed ears l2 through the sheet after which the ears are clinched inwardly, as shown in the drawing. In most instances, openings are provided in the backing sheet to accommodate the pointed ears. By the ears 12 extending transversely of the backing sheet and sheets being held, the complete folder may be placed in or removed from a filing cabinet without danger of snaring another folder. This is possible, as the base member when so constructed, has no sharp corners, hooks, or free marginal edges that might undesirably engage another folder.

The numeral I4 designates the usual bendable bar for piercing and holding sheet members to the back sheet Ill. The numeral l6 designates a bridge cut in the central portion of the base H and raised upwardly to provide an arch. When my fastener is assembled, this arch l6 extends upwardly through the backing sheet lll as shown in Fig. 1 for receiving the bar H. In order that this bridge or arch portion will operate successfully it is necessary that it be of specific design. A study of the drawing will show that I have made this bridge [6 comparatively narrow at its center in order that there will be a substantial amount of the fiat base member H back of the central portion of the bar I4, as shown in Fig. 2. This construction permits a very small opening from which the bridge I 6 is cut and there is no danger of the bar I 4 bending on one center line and tending to pass through the opening under the bridge l6 when the two outer ends of the bar 14 are bent upwardly to receive the sheet members. The numeral l5 designates two downwardly extending projections on the bar i4. These projections l5 snap into the opening under the bridge l6 when the bar I4 is slid into proper position under the bridge [6.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my improved device for fastening sheets without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a sheet fastener, a substantially fiat one piece base member having an arch out from its area and extending above its general top surface;

said arch and the opening in the base member from which it is formed having a decreased width near the center of their lengths, a plurality of bendable ears on said base member for securing said base member to a backing sheet, and a manually bendable bar member mounted on said base member by extending below said arch.

2. In a sheet fastener, a base member having an arch cut from its area and extending above its general top surface, a means for securing said base member to a sheet, a manually bendable bar member mounted on said base member by extending below said arch, and a projection on said 

